Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School, Director of Special Education

ORGANIZATION

Philadelphia Hebrew Public (PHP) is part of Hebrew Public: Charter Schools for Global Citizens, a growing network of secular public charter schools committed to preparing students to become global citizens—individuals who are curious, empathetic, and equipped to thrive in an interconnected world.

Serving a diverse student population in Philadelphia, PHP is grounded in a model that emphasizes academic excellence, language learning, and inclusive school communities that reflect racial and economic diversity. The Hebrew Public Schools are models of racial and economic integration, academic excellence, and world language learning. Join us in building something extraordinary!

To learn more, please visit www.philadelphiahebrewpublic.org.

OPPORTUNITY

Philadelphia Hebrew Public seeks a mission-driven and strategic Director of Special Education to lead and continuously improve all specialized services programming, ensuring exceptional outcomes for students with diverse learning needs.

This leader will oversee special education, 504 plans, academic and social-emotional interventions, and English Language Learner (ELL) services, ensuring that programming is both compliant and deeply aligned to student achievement goals.

The ideal candidate brings deep instructional and programmatic expertise, strong adult leadership skills, and a belief that special education programming must be tightly connected to academic outcomes.

This is an ideal opportunity for a systems-oriented instructional leader who is ready to build, refine, and scale a high-impact special education program while coaching and developing adults to deliver excellent services for students.

The Director will play a critical role on the School Leadership Team, shaping inclusive practices, strengthening compliance systems, and ensuring that all students receive the individualized supports necessary to thrive academically and socially.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities of the Director of Special Education include:

• Instructional & Programmatic Leadership: The Director designs, implements, and continuously refines specialized services—including Special Education, 504 plans, ELL services, and academic and social-emotional interventions—to ensure strong student outcomes. They coach and develop teachers to deliver high-quality, differentiated instruction aligned to student needs, using data to inform instructional decisions and targeted supports. The Director ensures that all programming is aligned to school-wide academic goals, builds staff capacity through ongoing feedback and professional learning, and stays current on best practices and research to continuously improve instruction and intervention effectiveness.
• Special Education Systems & Compliance: The Director leads all aspects of special education systems, including IEP and 504 processes, Approved Private School (APS) placements, evaluations, manifestation determinations, and related services. They ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while building systems that prioritize both legal integrity and meaningful, student-centered planning and service delivery.
• Adult Leadership & Talent Development: The Director coaches, develops, and evaluates special education teachers and service providers through consistent feedback, strong professional development, and clear accountability structures. They build team capacity, anticipate staff needs, and foster a culture of continuous improvement, high expectations, and shared ownership for student success.
• Collaborative Leadership & School Culture: The Director partners with both internal and external school leaders, teachers, and staff to ensure alignment between general and special education and to promote an inclusive, equitable, and high-expectations environment for all students. They build strong relationships across the school community, proactively address challenges, and lead with emotional intelligence to maintain a positive and collaborative school climate.
• Mission-Aligned Strategy & Continuous Improvement: As a member of the School Leadership Team, the Director advances the organization’s mission by using data, research, and best practices to evaluate program effectiveness, close opportunity gaps, and drive long-term improvements in student support systems, ensuring all decisions reflect a deep commitment to equity and global citizenship.
• Data Systems & Outcomes Accountability: The Director builds and manages systems to track student progress across academic, behavioral, and intervention metrics, ensuring all programming is grounded in measurable outcomes. They develop and refine effective systems in partnership with staff and the school community, with strong compliance structures that enable teacher and student success. The Director ensures consistent follow-through and accountability, recognizing that strong systems are the foundation of trust. They identify trends, respond to gaps in student growth with urgency, and lead data-driven planning that supports effective instructional decisions.
• Family & Stakeholder Engagement: The Director cultivates strong, trust-based relationships with families as essential partners in student success. They lead clear and proactive communication around student programming, facilitate collaborative and compliant IEP meetings, and coordinate effectively with external providers and community partners to ensure cohesive and high-quality supports.
• Change Management & Program Development: The Director assesses existing systems and leads strategic improvements to strengthen special education programming over time. They drive innovation, pilot and scale effective practices, and manage change thoughtfully by building buy-in, aligning stakeholders, and continuously refining systems based on data, feedback, and evolving student needs.

PRIORITIES

A successful first year in this role for the new Director of Special Education will include:

• Establishing a coherent, outcomes-driven special education program that aligns services, interventions, and instruction to measurable student growth;
• Strengthening IEP and 504 systems to ensure full compliance, strong documentation, and meaningful alignment to student needs;
• Building staff capacity through coaching and professional development, particularly for new teachers, to improve instructional quality and service delivery;
• Implementing data-driven decision-making systems to monitor student progress and adjust programming effectively;
• Fostering a collaborative and inclusive school culture where general education and special education teams work seamlessly to support all learners.

Requirements

In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Director of Special Education candidate will be:

• An accomplished educational leader with 5+ years of experience in urban education and special education leadership.
• Able to demonstrate instructional and programmatic expertise, with the ability to analyze data, drive instructional improvements, and design effective student-centered programming.
• A strong adult leader and manager, skilled in coaching, developing teams, and holding others accountable for results while building a positive and collaborative culture.
• Deeply committed to mission alignment, including educational equity, diversity, inclusion, and preparing students to become global citizens.
• Experienced in cultivating inclusive school culture and climate, ensuring that all students feel supported and that staff are aligned around shared expectations for excellence.
• Highly knowledgeable in special education law, compliance, and best practices, with a track record of managing IEPs, evaluations, and related services effectively.
• Experienced in navigating legal complexities and managing liability.
• A culturally competent and self-reflective leader who understands the impact of identity and systemic inequities on student experience and outcomes.

Benefits

Great leaders transform student lives. That’s why Hebrew Public has been making big moves to launch a comprehensive talent program that supports and rewards teachers and leaders in their work. This includes a competitive compensation package ranging from $110,000 - $135,000 with potential for increases based on experience.

Potential benefits* include:

• Health Coverage:
• Medical: Employer covers 85% of premiums.
• Dental: Employer covers 85% of premiums.
• Vision: 100% covered by employer.
• Retirement: 5% Employer Match of your annual salary dollar for dollar. No vesting period.
• Additional Compensation: Opportunities for performance bonuses and additional stipends.
• Wellness Matters: Mental health resources and employee assistance programs.
• Perks for You: Discounts on wellness programs & gym memberships.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Enjoy 20+ holidays, 14 PTO days (12 month staff).
• Family First: 6 weeks paid parental leave for primary caregivers and 4 weeks for non-primary caregivers when welcoming your new child.